Police arrested an 18-year-old man on Monday in connection with a series of online bomb threats targeting several public and private schools in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, authorities said.

Police Regional Office 3 reported that officers apprehended the suspect during a law enforcement operation in Barangay Hilera, located in the town of Jaen, Nueva Ecija, on 21 July.

The operation was conducted by the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station alongside local police units from Talavera and Jaen.

Investigators launched a follow-up operation after discovering bomb threats posted online on 20 and 21 July that caused widespread concern among students, parents, school administrators and residents.

Authorities identified, located and arrested the suspect within hours through intelligence work and identity validation.

Officers seized a mobile phone from the suspect believed to have been used to post the threats. The phone will undergo technical and forensic examination by the Provincial Anti-Cybercrime Unit.

The suspect faces charges for alleged violations of Presidential Decree 1727, known as the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, and grave threats under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The suspect and the seized mobile phone were brought to the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station for documentation and further investigation.